Did Kim Kardashian Just Fool Everybody With a Brilliant Marketing Move?
There’s no doubt that the Kardashians know what they are doing when it comes to marketing themselves and their products. After all, the whole family has become immensely famous and wealthy for seemingly doing nothing. Their careers have been made from making carefully planned decisions to increase their exposure and keep them in the spotlight.
Each sister has taken on their own business ventures, with Kylie Jenner finding the most success with her Kylie Cosmetics brand. But now, Kim Kardashian is hoping to find the same success with her new shapewear line. At first glance, the launch of her new brand didn’t go as planned. But, was the debut of Kimono a brilliant marketing plan that had us all fooled?
Kim Kardashian is expanding her brand
Last week, Kim Kardashian shared her latest passion project with fans. The KKW Beauty creator told fans that she has been struggling to find the perfect shapewear brand for years. In an Instagram post, the mogul shared she has found it difficult to find shapewear that fit, worked with her outfit, and matched her skin tone.
Kim told her followers she has been working on her new line for the past year but she has been passionate about it for the past 15 years. In her post, she revealed the brand’s name and shared its new Instagram page which appears to have been launched at the same time as Kim’s post. The post received over two million likes and seemed to connect with Kim’s audience.
The name Kimono drew immediate backlash
Not everyone was happy with Kim’s new shapewear. Upon announcing the name of her new shapewear line, the Keeping Up With Kardashians star was quickly under fire for the name choice. Critics called out the 38-year-old for cultural appropriation and soon the hashtag #KimOhNo was trending.
Outside of the Kardashian world, a Kimono is a traditional Japanese garment dating back to the 700s. It is traditionally worn on special occasions.
On Monday morning, Kim announced that she would be renaming her new line, after reflecting on the feedback she received from fans. The reality star announced her decision on Instagram:
“I am always listening, learning and growing – I so appreciate the passion and varied perspectives that people bring to me.” She continued, “When I announced the name of my shapewear line, I did so with the best intentions in mind. My brands and products are built with inclusivity and diversity at their core and after careful thought and consideration, I will be launching my Solutionwear brand under a new name,” adding that she would be in touch with a new name soon.
Was the whole event just a media ploy?
There is no doubt that Kim Kardashian has a strategy with every move that she makes. With the various business endeavors, it’s hard to believe that no one on the Kardashian team told Kim the Kimono name might not be received well. This was not a spur of the moment creation, as Kim revealed she has been working on the project for the last year.
We have to remember this is the same family that had a supposedly devastating cheating scandal playout for months before promoting the fallout in a two-part finale event. It’s also the same family that bust into the spotlight after Kim’s “leaked” sex tape.
Could the name choice have been a simple oversight? Sure. But some Reddit readers argue that the whole thing was just a scam to make Kim look “politically correct” and “connected to her fans.” We can’t help but question whether these Reddit readers are on to something.
